Desktop bowling game

ABSTRACT

A desktop bowling game is provided including bowling pins having metal that is attractable by magnets located at a base of each bowling pin, a ball, a main unit having a playing board having a surface with position markers for setup of the pins, and a pin reset mechanism, located below the playing board. The pin reset mechanism includes a sliding plate that slides up and down beneath the playing board between a first, up position immediately below and adjacent to the playing board to a second, down position away from the playing board. Magnets are disposed on the sliding plate adjacent to the playing board and adjacent to the position markers of the playing board.

This invention is directed to a desktop game. More particularly, thisinvention is directed to a desktop bowling game device.

Bowling is an indoor sport activity. The primitive forms of bowlingoriginally came from Germany, but it was later established as a sport inthe United States. Modern bowling centers have automatic apparatus,controlled by computer systems, for resetting pins that have beenknocked down. This provides for a nice, relaxed, leisure place forentertainment by players. The playing of bowling is not affected byoutdoor factors such as season and weather. Enthusiasts may play thegame regardless of weather conditions.

The advantages of bowling are numerous, including:

1) it is exciting to see the pins falling down after been struck by aball;

2) bowling is for people of all ages; everyone can enjoy it;

3) bowling eliminates stress; and

4) bowling offers exercise.

Most importantly, bowling offers exercise as well as relaxingentertainment.

However, bowling can be expensive to play due to high bowling centerfacility costs and high equipment costs. Many people cannot afford toplay. As such, the popularity of the game is somewhat diminished, andrelatively few bowling centers are built. Today, bowling game centersare mainly built in well developed cities of relatively high economicstrength. Only those with sufficient disposable income bowl often. Fewerbowling centers are built in smaller cities and in economically poorregions. Many people have no opportunity to go to bowling centers inthat it is a game for those having sufficient wealth. Some people onlywatch bowling on television. The present invention assists in bringingthe sport to everyone, not just to those who can afford it. Finally,since people must specifically go to a bowling center to go bowling, itcan also often be inconvenient for those living far from a bowlingcenter.

An existing desktop bowling game (also called table top bowling) hassimilar play rules to billiards. Here, a rod (such as a pool cue) isused to hit the ball to collide with other balls. This is very differentthan a traditional bowling game. The table top for this type of bowlinggame must be very large. In general, these types of games must beinstalled at a fixed location. Thus, usage is inconvenient and it isimpossible to bring the game along for playing anywhere at any time.

Desirable features of a desktop bowling game would include a simple andreliable structure that is portable and convenient, and that isrealistic and entertaining.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is related to a bowling game device, which includes amain unit, a playing board, a launcher with a ball groove, a pluralityof bowling pins and a ball, the ball being preferably made from steel.The playing board is assembled with and integral to the main unit. A pinretaining pocket, formed by the playing board and the main unit, allowsspace for catching the pins when they are knocked down by the ball. Thesurface of the playing board has markers marking the position for thestanding bowling pins. The launcher is separate and unattached to themain unit and is free to move on the surface of the playing board.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a simple andreliable structure, that is convenient, portable, realistic andentertaining. Based on these goals, an automatic pin reset mechanism toassist in resetting the pins is integral to the present device. The pinreset mechanism utilizes metal, attractable by magnets at the bottom ofthe pins. An up and down movement of the magnetic pin reset mechanism,assists in resetting the pins at marked bowling pin positions on playingboard of the main unit. The magnetic pin reset mechanism includes ahousing, a sliding plate, a cam shaft, and one or more compressionsprings. Magnets, preferably ten, are installed into the sliding plateto attract the metal in the bowling pins. Each magnet's positioncorresponds with a standard configured bowling pin position markers onthe main unit's surface. A cam shaft and compression spring areinstalled between the sliding plate and the housing. Both ends of thecam shaft have a symmetrical cam. One side of the cam shaft has a lockfor locking the housing. By rotating the cam shaft together with the camand the compression spring, the sliding plate is caused to move up anddown inside the housing, thereby providing magnetic forces to thesurface of the playing board, located on the housing.

When the game starts, a knob disposed on the camshaft is turned to itsupright position such that cam shaft allows the compression spring tomove upward, pushing the magnets on the slide plate into a positionunder the surface of the playing board such that the magnets attract themetal in the pins to assist in setting up the pins. The strong magneticforces on the surface of the playing board make the pins stand uprightat a correct fixed position, and assists in preventing the pins fromtipping over. That is, the metal in the bowling pins is attracted by themagnets in the pin reset mechanism through the playing board. When theknob of the camshaft is turned to a horizontal position (the cam locksthe camshaft into position so the sliding plate does not return to itsposition directly below the surface of the playing board), the magnetsin the pin reset mechanism move far enough below the surface to removeany substantial magnetic forces from the bowling pins, thereby allowingthe pins to be knocked down by the ball and fall into the pin retainingpocket.

In the present invention, a desktop bowling game is provided, includinga plurality of bowling pins at least partially comprising metal that isattractable by magnets, the metal located at a base of each bowling pin,a ball, a main unit comprising a playing board having a surface withposition markers for setup of the pins, and a pin reset mechanismlocated below the playing board. The pin reset mechanism includes asliding plate that slides up and down beneath the playing board betweena first, up position immediately below and adjacent to the playing boardto a second, down position away from the playing board. The pin resetmechanism further includes a plurality of magnets disposed on thesliding plate adjacent to the playing board and adjacent to the positionmarkers of the playing board.

The pin reset mechanism may further include a cam shaft having at leastone cam to engage the sliding plate to move the sliding plate up anddown relative to the playing board upon rotation of the cam shaft.

The desktop bowling game may further include a pin retaining pocket toprovide space for retaining the pins when the pins are knocked down bythe ball. The pin reset mechanism may include at least one compressionspring to urge the sliding plate towards the playing board. The ball ispreferably a steel ball. The plurality of pins preferably includes tenpins.

In a more detailed embodiment of the present invention, a desktopbowling game is provided which includes a plurality of bowling pins atleast partially comprising metal that is attractable by magnets wherethe metal is located at a base of each bowling pin. The game includes aball and a main unit having a playing board having a surface withposition markers for setup of the pins. The game further includes a pinreset mechanism, located below the playing board that includes a slidingplate that slides up and down beneath the playing board between a first,up position immediately below and adjacent to the playing board to asecond, down position away from the playing board. A cam shaft isprovided having at least one cam to engage the sliding plate to move thesliding plate up and down relative to the playing board upon rotation ofthe cam shaft. The pin reset mechanism further includes a plurality ofmagnets disposed on the sliding plate adjacent to the playing board andadjacent to the position markers of the playing board. At least onecompression spring is provided to urge the sliding plate towards theplaying board.

The desktop may further include a pin retaining pocket to provide spacefor retaining the pins when the pins are knocked down by the ball. Theball is preferably a steel ball. The plurality of pins preferablyincludes ten pins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in conjunction with the followingdrawings in which like reference numerals designate like elements andwherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the desktop bowling game in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is cross sectional view of the desktop bowling game of FIG. 1,taken substantially along lines A-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of a pin resetmechanism of the desktop bowling game of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an isometric, exploded view of the pin reset mechanism of FIG.3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will be illustrated in more detail with reference to thefollowing embodiment, but it should be understood that the presentinvention is not deemed to be limited thereto.

Referring now to the drawing figures, wherein like part numbers refer tolike elements throughout the several views, there is shown in FIGS. 1and 2, a desktop bowling game in accordance with a preferred embodimentof the present invention. The desktop bowling game includes a main unit1, having a playing board 2, a launcher 3 with a ball groove 31, bowlingpins 4 (preferably ten), and a ball 6 (preferably made from steel). Theplaying board 2 is assembled and is integral with the main unit 1. Pinretaining pocket 11 is formed by the playing board 2 in combination withthe main unit 1 and allows for space for catching the pins 4 when theyare knocked down by the ball 6. The surface of the playing board 2 ismarked with standard bowling pin positions, e.g., a traditional triangledistribution of four, three, two and one pins 4, by bowling pin markings21. The launcher 3 can be moved along the surface of the playing board2. To further enhance the realistic feel and the fun of the game, thepins 4 can stand up in the correct position automatically. The bowlingpins 4 contain metal, such as metal pins 41 at their base (see FIG. 2).This further achieves the purpose of the invention. An up and downmoving pin reset mechanism 5 is positioned under the bowling pinmarkings 21 of the playing board 2 on the main unit 1, as mentionedabove.

As seen in FIGS. 2-4, the magnetic pin reset mechanism 5 includes ahousing 51, a sliding plate 52, cam shaft 53, and compression spring 54.Magnets 55, preferably ten, corresponding to the bowling pin markings 21are disposed on the sliding plate 52 which are located under the bowlingpin markings 21 for attracting the metal pins 41 of the bowling pins 4.Each magnet 55 position is associated with the standard bowling pinposition markings 21. The cam shaft 53 and compression spring 54 areinstalled between the sliding plate 52 and housing 51. Both ends of thecam shaft 53 have a symmetrical cam 56. One side of the cam shaft 53 hasa lock 57 for locking the housing 51. By rotation of the cam shaft 53,together with the cam 56 and the compression spring 54, the actioncauses the sliding plate 52 to move up and down.

Sliding plate 52 and magnets 55 are disposed on the bottom of theplaying board under the bowling pin markings 21. When the handle of thecamshaft is turned to its up (vertical) position and disposed againstthe bottom of the playing board 2, strong magnetic forces are present onthe top of the playing board 2. This provides assistance for the pins 3to stand straight up and in proper, fixed position. When the handle ofthe cam shaft 53 is turned to its down (horizontal) position, the camshaft 53 is locked with the sliding plate 52 such that the magnets 55are disposed away from the playing board 2 and remain that way until theknob is released. The magnets 55 are sufficiently far from the playingboard 2 to remove any substantial magnetic pull.

While the invention has been described in detail and with reference tospecific examples thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the artthat various changes and modifications can be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A desktop bowling game, comprising (a) aplurality of bowling pins at least partially comprising metal that isattractable by magnets, said metal located at a base of each bowlingpin; (b) a ball; (c) a main unit comprising a playing board having asurface with position markers for setup of the pins; and (d) a pin resetmechanism, located below the playing board, said pin reset mechanismcomprising: a sliding plate that slides up and down beneath the playingboard between a first, up position immediately below and adjacent to theplaying board to a second, down position away from the playing board;and (ii) a plurality of magnets disposed on the sliding plate adjacentto the playing board and adjacent to the position markers of the playingboard.
 2. The desktop bowling game of claim 1, wherein the pin resetmechanism further includes a cam shaft having at least one cam to engagethe sliding plate to move the sliding plate up and down relative to theplaying board upon rotation of the cam shaft.
 3. The desktop bowlinggame of claim 1, further including a pin retaining pocket to providespace for retaining the pins when the pins are knocked down by the ball.4. The desktop bowling game of claim 1, wherein the pin reset mechanismincludes at least one compression spring to urge the sliding platetowards the playing board.
 5. The desktop bowling game of claim 1,wherein the ball is a steel ball.
 6. The desktop bowling game of claim1, wherein the plurality of pins includes ten pins.
 7. A desktop bowlinggame, comprising (a) a plurality of bowling pins at least partiallycomprising metal that is attractable by magnets, said metal located at abase of each bowling pin; (b) a ball; (c) a main unit comprising aplaying board having a surface with position markers for setup of thepins; and (d) a pin reset mechanism, located below the playing board,said pin reset mechanism comprising: (i) a sliding plate that slides upand down beneath the playing board between a first, up positionimmediately below and adjacent to the playing board to a second, downposition away from the playing board; (ii) a cam shaft having at leastone cam to engage the sliding plate to move the sliding plate up anddown relative to the playing board upon rotation of the cam shaft; (iii)a plurality of magnets disposed on the sliding plate adjacent to theplaying board and adjacent to the position markers of the playing board;and (iv) at least one compression spring to urge the sliding platetowards the playing board.
 8. The desktop bowling game of claim 7,further including a pin retaining pocket to provide space for retainingthe pins when the pins are knocked down by the ball.
 9. The desktopbowling game of claim 7, wherein the ball is a steel ball.
 10. Thedesktop bowling game of claim 7, wherein the plurality of pins includesten pins.